M/M: A Hymn for the Sacred Band of Thebes, Greek Anthology 13.22

A Hymn in Praise of the Sacred Band of Thebes 

Name: Phaedimus of Bisanthe Date:    2nd century BCE Region:    Bisanthe [modern Turkey] Citation:    Greek Anthology 13.22

My lord, Far-Shooter,

Hold back the bow

You used to bring down the hearts of giants!

Do not open the quiver of the Wolf Slayer!

Instead use the arrows of Love

On our youth  

So the courageous love of these young men

May defend our homeland!

This love kindles their courage,

O Greatest of the gods,

Ever improving these champions.

O Guardian of Thebes,

Accept this gift of Melistion.

τόξον μὲν, ᾧ Γίγαντος ὤλεσας σθένος, ἴσχε βίης, Ἑκάεργ᾽ ἀνάσσων: οὔ οἱ φαρέτρη λύεται λυκοκτόνος: τοῖσδε δ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἠΐθέοις ὀΐστὸν στρέφειν Ἔρωτος, τόφρ᾽ ἀλέξωνται πάτρῃ, θαρσαλέοι φιλότατι κούρων.

Arcum quidem, quo Gigantis deiecisti robur, cohibe a violentia, longinque-iaculans regnator; non tibi pharetra aperiatur luporum-interfectrix; sed hos in adolescentes sagittam verte Amoris, ut auxilientur patriae, impavidi amore iuvenum.

πυρὸς γὰρ ἀλκή, καὶ θεῶν ὑπέρτατος αἰὲν ὅδε προμάχους ἀέξειν. Μελιστίωνος δ᾽, ὦ πατρώιον σέβας Σχοινιέων, ἐπίηρα δέχθαι.

Ignis est vis ille est et deorum supremus usque hic ad propugnatores excitandos. Melistionis autem, o patrium numen Schoeniensium, studium tui accipe. Translated into Latin by Hugo Grotius

Phaedimus of Bisanthe [2nd century BCE, modern Turkey] was one of the numerous authors whose poetry is preserved in The Greek Anthology. Very little is known about him or his works outside of these extant poems.